Description
Human rights violations are often particularly severe in transition societies that are
undergoing significant political, social and economic transformations. Improving
human rights practices in transition societies should therefore be a central goal for
domestic reformers and the international community alike. This makes sense
not only because of the intrinsic value of improved human rights protection, but also
because of the indirect effects that such improvements have on democratization,
economic development, and conflict resolution.
The book is a joint effort by 17 scholars from various parts of the world, specializing in political science, sociology, law, and regional studies. It explores the contemporary international human rights regime, the factors predominantly responsible for human rights violations in transition societies, long-term consequences of such violations, and political remedies.
Authors/Editors
Shale Horowitz is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Albrecht Schnabel is a senior research fellow at swisspeace - Swiss Peace Foundation, Bern. <
Contents
Introduction: Human rights and societies in transition: International context and sources of variation
Part One: Defining, delimiting and understanding human rights in societies in transition
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a norm for societies in transition
Universalism and cultural relativism: Lessons for transitional states
From global norms to local change: Theoretical perspectives on the promotion of human rights in societies of transition
Part Two: Monitoring, promoting and enforcing human rights
The United Nations and human rights
The consequences of the War Crimes Tribunals and an International Criminal Court for human rights in transition societies
International efforts to protect human rights in transition societies: Right, duty, or politics?
Democratic transitions and foreign policy: The United States
Part Three: Sources of human rights violations and their impact on peace,
democratization and economic development
Sources and consequences of human rights violations in Iraq
Exploring the dynamics of human rights and reform: Iran, Pakistan and Turkey
Causes and consequences of variation in post-communist human rights practices
Human rights and conflict in the former Yugoslavia
Human rights in transition societies: The cases of Somalia and South Africa
Human rights and transition societies in Western Africa
Political development and democratic rights in Greater China
Human rights in India
Human rights, the military, and the transition to democracy in Argentina and South Korea
Conclusion: Protecting human rights in transition societies: Lessons and recommendations
Contributors
Shale Horowitz
Albrecht Schnabel
Johannes Morsink
Richard Lewis Siegel
Genevieve Souillac
W. Ofuatey-Kodjoe
Paul J. Magnarella
Barbara Ann J. Rieffer
David P. Forsythe
Jenab Tutunji
Mahmood Monshipouri
Aleksandar Resanovic
Wafula Okumu
Eghosa E. Osaghae
Man-To Leung
D. R. Kaarthikeyan
Terence Roehrig
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